Home > The Newsroom > Season 1 « TV Series Page The Newsroom: Season 1 (2012) SEASON: Season 1 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Want to see Episode List Season 1 The Newsroom Critics Consensus Though it sports good intentions and benefits from moments of stellar dialogue and a talented cast, The Newsroom may feel too preachy, self satisfied, and cynical to appeal to a wide range of viewers. 48% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 48 85% Audience Score User Ratings: 445 See score details Rate And Review Submit review Want to see Edit Submit review Super Reviewer Verified Super Reviewer Verified Edit Super Reviewer Rate this season Oof, that was Rotten. Meh, it passed the time. It’s good – I’d recommend it. Awesome! So Fresh: Absolute Must See! What did you think of this tv season? (optional) Submit Continue Super Reviewer Step 2 of 2 How did you buy your ticket? Let's get your review verified. Submit By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket. Super Reviewer Rate this season Oof, that was Rotten. Meh, it passed the time. It’s good – I’d recommend it. Awesome! So Fresh: Absolute Must See! What did you think of this tv season? (optional) Submit How did you buy your ticket? Submit By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Episodes 1 We Just Decided To Air date: Jun 24, 2012 Series Pilot. Surviving the fallout from a meltdown, ACN 'News Night' anchor Will McAvoy returns to his job and faces a new executive producer (a former girlfriend), a staff overhaul, and a breaking-news challenge. More 2 News Night 2.0 Air date: Jul 1, 2012 Mac asserts control over the new incarnation of News Night and enlists a beautiful and brainy on-air economist, Sloan Sabbith, to do a nightly segment. Jim takes the fall for a Maggie miscue; a long-festering breakup secret gets out. More 3 The 112th Congress Air date: Jul 8, 2012 In an on-air editorial, Will apologizes for past newscasts and promises a new era of integrity for News Night. Will's new approach rankles CEO Leona Lansing. Jim soothes Maggie during a panic attack; Don charges Elliot to get in the game. More 4 I'll Try to Fix You Air date: Jul 15, 2012 Will's 'mission to civilize' takes a hit when he finds himself in the tabloid spotlight. Wade approaches Will with a story; Don gets Maggie to fix Jim up with her roommate; Will refuses to follow the media rumor mill and make a call on a breaking story. More 5 Amen Air date: Jul 22, 2012 In the midst of its coverage of the ouster of Egyptian President Mubarak, the 'News Night' team learns of a teachers' protest in Wisconsin, prompting them to get side-by-side views of the simultaneous uprisings on air. More 6 Bullies Air date: Jul 29, 2012 Will keeps a long-standing therapy appointment. Subbing for Elliot during the Japanese nuclear crisis, Sloan's interrogation of a Tokyo power-company spokesperson lands her in hot water. Will comes to recognize the causes and effects of being a bully. More 7 5/1 Air date: Aug 5, 2012 An anonymous source contacts Charlie and provides advance details on an imminent story of national importance. When news breaks that the President will be making a televised speech that night, the 2.0 staff cuts short its anniversary party. More 8 The Blackout Part I: Tragedy Porn Air date: Aug 12, 2012 News Night's refusal to lead with a pair of sensational stories causes ratings to plummet--and forces Will and Mac to abandon their principles in order to lure back viewers and shore up the network's bid to land a Republican debate. More 9 The Blackout Part II: Mock Debate Air date: Aug 19, 2012 Will and the staff stage a mock debate for two Republican Party officials. Mac has an epiphany during a power outage; Charlie vets the credibility of an NSA insider; Lisa goes off-script during an interview; Neal goes undercover as an internet troll. More 10 The Greater Fool Air date: Aug 26, 2012 Season One Finale. Nina Howard surprises Mac with a damning revelation; Jim and Maggie reach a crossroad; Sloan weighs a new job offer; Neal uses his internet alter-ego to smoke out a threat. Will, Mac, and Charlie face off with Leona and Reese. More The Newsroom: Season 1 Photos View All Photos (19) Tv Season Info A volatile cable-news anchor (Jeff Daniels) and the idealogical staff that has just been foisted upon him set out to 'do the news well' in the face of numerous obstacles in Season 1 of this HBO series from Aaron Sorkin ('The Social Network'). Genre: Drama Network: HBO Premiere Date: Jun 24, 2012 Creator: Aaron Sorkin Exec. Producers: Aaron Sorkin, Alan Poul, Scott Rudin Cast Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy Emily Mortimer as MacKenzie McHale John Gallagher Jr. as Jim Harper Alison Pill as Margaret Jordan Thomas Sadoski as Don Keefer Sam Waterston as Charlie Skinner Dev Patel as Neal Sampat Olivia Munn as Sloan Sabbith Adina Porter as Kendra James Chris Chalk as Gary Cooper David Harbour as Elliot Hirsch Chris Messina as Reese Lansing Terry Crews as Lonny Church Kelen Coleman as Lisa Hope Davis as Nina Howard Jane Fonda as Leona Lansing Margaret Judson as Tess Westin Jon Tenney as Wade Campbell David Krumholtz as Dr. Jack Habib Stephen McKinley Henderson as Solomon Hancock Thomas Matthews as Martin Stallworth John F. Carpenter as Herb Wilson Trieu Tran as Joey Phan Paul Schneider as Brian Brenner Wynn Everett as Tamara Hart Charlie Weirauch as Jake Watson Adam Arkin as Adam Roth Elizabeth Marvel as Sharon David Cromer as Moderator Kathryn Hahn as Carrie Jake McDorman as Tate Brady Philip Baker Hall as Bryce Delancy Damon Gupton as Sutton Wall Jason Butler Harner as Lewis Eve Gordon as Phylis Greer Matt Long as Brad Merle Dandridge as Maria Guerrero Chasty Ballesteros as Tea Missy Yager as Monica Patrick Fabian as Tony Hart Yuki Matsuzaki as Daisuke Tanaka JD Cullum as Frank Guidry Chuma Hunter-Gault as Assistant Director Ned Vaughn as Dick Warren John Walcutt as Greg Towne Saemi Nakamura as Translator Sarah Scott Davis as Terry Smith Deborah Strang as Gloria Hansen Cornell Womack as Daniel Mendoza Brian Huskey as Jake Watson Marshall Bell as Ross Fernholm Riley Voelkel as Jennifer Adams Megan Park as Gwen Valley Ricky Mabe as Steven Norma Maldonado as Housekeeper Steven Hack as Dr. Morris Stefanie Malouf as Karaoke #1 Emily Wilson as Shannon Bryer Jill Remez as Sherri Stone Jamison Yang as Martin Wing Cyndee San Luis as Paulita Maya Chauncey Jenkins as Karaoke #2 Monika Smith as Amy Mia Barron as Sheryl Bell Victoria Kelleher as Charlie's Secretary Kathleen Kennedy as Brenda Corey Sorenson as Mike Lyndall Everette Wallin as Ted Wexler Celeste McMillian as Waitress Laura Stone as Danielle Tehmina Sunny as Melinda Douglas Troy Blendell as Kyle Lohman Briana Cuoco as Neal's Girl Tristin Mays as Karaoke Girl Show More Cast News & Interviews for The Newsroom: Season 1 Which Movie Star Fared Best on TV? Julia Roberts in Homecoming and More Small-Screen Debuts Marvel’s Iron Fist Breaks Tomatometer Record with Biggest Sophomore Bump View All The Newsroom: Season 1 News Episodes 1 We Just Decided To Air date: Jun 24, 2012 Series Pilot. Surviving the fallout from a meltdown, ACN 'News Night' anchor Will McAvoy returns to his job and faces a new executive producer (a former girlfriend), a staff overhaul, and a breaking-news challenge. More 2 News Night 2.0 Air date: Jul 1, 2012 Mac asserts control over the new incarnation of News Night and enlists a beautiful and brainy on-air economist, Sloan Sabbith, to do a nightly segment. Jim takes the fall for a Maggie miscue; a long-festering breakup secret gets out. More 3 The 112th Congress Air date: Jul 8, 2012 In an on-air editorial, Will apologizes for past newscasts and promises a new era of integrity for News Night. Will's new approach rankles CEO Leona Lansing. Jim soothes Maggie during a panic attack; Don charges Elliot to get in the game. More 4 I'll Try to Fix You Air date: Jul 15, 2012 Will's 'mission to civilize' takes a hit when he finds himself in the tabloid spotlight. Wade approaches Will with a story; Don gets Maggie to fix Jim up with her roommate; Will refuses to follow the media rumor mill and make a call on a breaking story. More 5 Amen Air date: Jul 22, 2012 In the midst of its coverage of the ouster of Egyptian President Mubarak, the 'News Night' team learns of a teachers' protest in Wisconsin, prompting them to get side-by-side views of the simultaneous uprisings on air. More 6 Bullies Air date: Jul 29, 2012 Will keeps a long-standing therapy appointment. Subbing for Elliot during the Japanese nuclear crisis, Sloan's interrogation of a Tokyo power-company spokesperson lands her in hot water. Will comes to recognize the causes and effects of being a bully. More 7 5/1 Air date: Aug 5, 2012 An anonymous source contacts Charlie and provides advance details on an imminent story of national importance. When news breaks that the President will be making a televised speech that night, the 2.0 staff cuts short its anniversary party. More 8 The Blackout Part I: Tragedy Porn Air date: Aug 12, 2012 News Night's refusal to lead with a pair of sensational stories causes ratings to plummet--and forces Will and Mac to abandon their principles in order to lure back viewers and shore up the network's bid to land a Republican debate. More 9 The Blackout Part II: Mock Debate Air date: Aug 19, 2012 Will and the staff stage a mock debate for two Republican Party officials. Mac has an epiphany during a power outage; Charlie vets the credibility of an NSA insider; Lisa goes off-script during an interview; Neal goes undercover as an internet troll. More 10 The Greater Fool Air date: Aug 26, 2012 Season One Finale. Nina Howard surprises Mac with a damning revelation; Jim and Maggie reach a crossroad; Sloan weighs a new job offer; Neal uses his internet alter-ego to smoke out a threat. Will, Mac, and Charlie face off with Leona and Reese. More Critic Reviews for The Newsroom Season 1 All Critics (48) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (25) Even with The West Wing creator at the wheel, HBO's Next Big Drama, Newsroom, which is set at a CNN-like network, disappoints. Sep 13, 2017 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review… John Griffiths Us Weekly Top Critic Speechifying, crusading characters and high drama are acceptable when the future of the free world is at risk; less so when it's the future of an 11pm cable news show. Mar 28, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review… Andrew Williams Quickflix Top Critic Ultimately, no one appears more deluded than Sorkin. His Will McAvoy is an insufferable blowhard, but the show spends most of its energy trying to convince us he's a saint. Sep 16, 2013 | Full Review… Andy Greenwald Grantland Top Critic Monstrously misconceived and incompetently executed, powered by a high-octane blend of arrogance and contempt, The Newsroom is an epochal failure, a program destined for television's all-time What Were They Thinking? Jun 24, 2012 | Full Review… Glenn Garvin Miami Herald Top Critic The show offers a lot of great talking, but to whom does it wish to speak? Jun 24, 2012 | Full Review… Troy Patterson Slate Top Critic It all feels over-overwrought. Jun 24, 2012 | Full Review… Joanne Ostrow Denver Post Top Critic Even when the show is varnished with its fictional media gloss, its ideology is steadfast. It's never meant to be revolutionary either. Apr 29, 2020 | Full Review… Ruhaan Shah Film Companion The Newsroom is a little like 24 would be if there were no Jack Bauer, only the nerds back at CTU. Oct 22, 2018 | Full Review… Jeff Bercovici Esquire Magazine Flawed, but endlessly fascinating and enjoyable. Aug 26, 2018 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review… Terence Johnson AwardsCircuit.com Aaron Sorkin's latest show is so serious it's ridiculous. Jul 22, 2018 | Full Review… Adam Sweeting The Arts Desk We really enjoyed The Newsroom... But Sorkin's desperation to say something serious and make statements are so ham-fisted and hackneyed that it will rub many up the wrong way and leave those that would normally sympathise with him feeling patronized. Jun 21, 2018 | Full Review… Alex Fletcher Digital Spy The Newsroom isn't one giant sermon, and even a less-than-great entry from Sorkin is better than much of what graces the airwaves. Jun 21, 2018 | Full Review… Sarah Carlson Pajiba View All Critic Reviews (48) Audience Reviews for The Newsroom: Season 1 May 30, 2020 I really loved this show. Every season it just got better. I wish it was still on the air. Jane V May 15, 2020 Tacky writing. The narrative style is not cohesive and can't seem to make up its mind. A scene of gritty realism is often immediately followed up with a non-sensical banter. It's hard to take the characters seriously, it's also hard find a comic narrative to it. This show had so much potential. In a post-truth era, this show could have been a testament to show everything that's wrong with news media but they just reached out for the clickbait trailer and the lowest hanging fruits Sachin A Apr 02, 2020 One of the best shows that doesn't treat the audience like idiots. It's exactly what we wish journalists were like and what I think we need a little more of these days. Terri R Mar 25, 2020 Sorkin's Season 1 started with a bang but ended with a whimper. The fictious show and its main character, Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels), start with a noble premise: What if the news media was about the facts and not the hype? You can even see how high they set the bar with their opening credits (which were totally revamped for Season 2). Unfortunately, they totally run out steam by the third episode (The 112th Congress) and Will goes from potentially being the next Walter Cronkite to the next Chris Mathews. After episode 3, Sorkin took to bashing everything Republican or Tea Party and this continues for the rest of the season. This is not to say that the colorful group of incompetent Republicans should not have been skewered... it's just to point out that with a Democrat as President (Obama), Will - who continually reminds us that he's a Republican - cannot find one fault with the White House or any Democrat in office. It seems that only Republicans are saying stupid things and to prove this, Sorkin takes to not only attacking all Republican POTUS contenders but also every conservative voice including Rush Limbaugh and Fox. [Seems that even today, Walter Cronkite would want a balanced presentation.] To make Season 1 even more intolerable, Sorkin creates amazing characters and complex relationships that only serve to frustrate you to no end. These smart, witty and creative personas can solve all of America's political problems with a couple of charts and a few poignant facts... yet they're too inept to take a moment to tell someone they care about that they're sorry, they love them or they're in love with someone else. Or find the time to follow through. Plus, just when a character gathers the fortitude to speak openly about their feeling - we feel Sorkin's Deus ex machina in the form of unbelievable events in order to keep the relationships from going anywhere. Not once. Not twice. But over and over again. Kudos to Sorkin for writing strong and smart female characters who were a joy to see. But unfortunately, the "news" content and ridiculous failed relationships were so heavy handedly presented that watching Season 1 grew tiresome and very preachy. If you want to see an engaging and entertaining production of what news should be and how newsroom relationships are complicated, check out James Brooks' Broadcast News film. It shines where Newsroom Season 1 fails miserably. kagey g Mar 19, 2020 This is one of the most compelling, relevant, and captivating show from a geo-political, emotional and social level! Nauder M Sep 30, 2019 Absolutely a beautiful piece of work!!! I originally saw a short clip of this season circulating social media and was interested where it originated from. Once I found out it came from this series, I sat down and watched the first episode, then the second, the third, and the rest of the series. Mr. Sorkin does such a wonderful job writing this series and creating a show that the audience can truly relate to as these are real events that happened throughout our life time. I have since watched this serious over a dozen times and continue to recommend the show to friends and co-workers. Amanda F Feb 04, 2019 One of my all-time favorite TV series. I love Sorkin's writing and this show is just on an entirely different level than all of his previous ventures in television (which I also really enjoyed - but even The West Wing is not of the caliber that The Newsroom is.) The cast - led by Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Thomas Sadoski, Allison Pill, David Harbour and Sam Waterston - is truly outstanding. It also features a number of great guest spots Damon Gupron, David Krumholtz and Terry Crews. The characters are beautifully drawn - the show is both inspirational and wildly funny. The speech Will McAvoy delivers in the pilot is just a masterpiece. The show is perfectly cast with characters I fell in love with almost immediately. My only disappointment in the show was that Sorkin let the media criticism of the first season get to him - and unfortunately, it resulted in the show moving in a less inspirational direction - and Sorkin is always at his best when he is tilting at windmills. Nicole B Dec 10, 2018 Hammer hitting a cantaloupe. J T Feb 19, 2018 47%??? who are you peaople??? Dee P Oct 22, 2017 Pretends to be a journey back to the sane from the frenzy of a polarized bipartisan America. When all I've seen are blatant jabs at a series of dimwitted caricatures from the Republican party. Wouldn't balanced criticize both sides? I don't adhere to either side but don't try to set the characters up as above the bipartisan squalor when its clearly just more of the same. Liberals (aka Sorkin) fueling the division America is already in. The acting is good, well written dialogue, but overall plot scheme and agenda have already bored me out of watching it. Had potential but clearly Aaron Sorkin doesn't want what Will McAvoy claims to be pursuing a "United" States of America. 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